to be annoyed that ds's teacher told him a spider is an insect?

[pofacedandproud]

Ok ds is in reception, but still. I have always told him a spider is not an insect but an arachnid, insects have 6 legs, etc, but today he came home and said 'Mrs X told me that I could bring a spider to school as the letter this week is I for insect'

I asked him if she really suggested a spider for 'I'. And he was very sure she had. So I told him again a spider was an arachnid. I know it is a small thing but it does annoy me, her telling them that. Yes I know she does an amazing job with 30 children, and she is great, but still.

FFS A FRUIT CANNOT BE A VEGETABLE!

Right, that's it, really am leaving this thread now, you is all bunch of harpies and ignoramuses and i have Better Things To Do.

Ok. That's decided it. Little Pofaced needs to cut two of the toy spiders legs off and glue it to its heads. It was sooo obvious ... why didn't we get there quicker?!

Maybe I should send in a toy spider with two legs chopped off and stuck on its head?

Bah! You got there before me stillstanding.

x-post, po (although the typos in mine beggar belief)

and he'll need to make some wings for his spider/insect beastie.

Is a cucumber not a vegetable?

Good thing I'm not a teacher

Perhaps we'll put spots on the toy spider instead.
Teacher - So you brought an insect?
Ds - No I brought an ill arachnid.

If it grows from where the flower was, and has seeds inside it (even very soft ones) then it's a fruit. If it's a leaf, stalk or root, then it's a vegetable.

It's got to be all or nothing - you can't get wound up about insect/arachnid but be all nonchalant about fruit/vegetable!!

Send him in wearing a big coat and boots and tell her he's an Inuit - just FGS don't let her call him an Eskimo!!

yes I know AMIS, I know.

LOL about the inuit.

You are completely right. She is an educator. She should look up her facts. That she has 30 children to look after is no excuse for her ignorance.

Used to be driven nuts by primary school teacher who gave list of spelling words in which there were several mistakes. The lazy bag couldn t even be bothered to look them up. She was teaching children to spell words incorrectly. Worse than useless.

I think parents have every right to comment about something like this. It is not pedantry it is about getting the facts right.

it is odd isn't it DullWitch? I mean it is a bit of a basic error. She would not be amused if I pointed it out though, there is a culture of parents knowing their place, which I suppose is fair enough in a way. I am rankled though.

Was dismayed to hear that 58 per cent of primary teachers can't name two poets. And they are in charge of enthusing young minds about reading and writing.

I think it is your place to ensure that your child receives the correct facts though, no?

Personally I wouldn't bother making a big deal of this with the teacher but I would ensure that your DS knows what's what (including that a tomato is a fruit, you know ).

[ponders]
can the poor old teachers get anyfink right this week on mumsnet? anyfink?

pull a couple of legs off

meh

can't believe this is even a thought process tbh

I have, of course, pointed out the tomato-is-a- fruit-fact before now and will continue to reinforce it.

that nearly 60% can't name two poets.

Oh the anyfink thread. I only saw the title. Not bothered by a teacher's accent, as long as she can tell her arachniks from her insecks.

I can see why you are irritated, but I must admit I don't see it as a big deal. And I have to say it would a bit of an upheaval for most children and adults to be absolutely accurate at all times; first insect/arachnid, next tomato=fruit, vulva not vagina... IYSWIM.

I discovered today that like many people my dd's teacher does not know the difference between an acronym and an abbreviation, I'll get over it.

I don't think calling a spider an insect is anywhere near as bad as giving children incorrectly spelled words.

PS Love this term mini beasts (sorry!), fab! Covers my children too.

This would never happen in Edinburgh.

They'd all be filed under B for beasties.

Great word, saves confusion imo

A famous and clever person once said:
"Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad."

Sadly i'm not clever enough to know who it was....

Is this the same teacher with the lazy Estruary English (see yesterday's thread), I guess "anyfink" goes these days. I am going to send the Entomologists Liberation Front round to sort her out for you,grrr!

i was always a bit of a pedant at school. i know how your DD feels, Riven, i wa stold off many times for correcting the teacher!

didn't stop me doing it though.
it used to annoy me how stupid uninformed some teachers were.